Doll-ed up for summer

Eccentric - and some might even say crazed - cabaret punk duo the Dresden Dolls (pictured) return to New Zealand for two shows in January.

The band - made up of Amanda Palmer on piano and vocals and drummer Brian Viglione - went on a two-year hiatus in 2008, during which time Palmer performed solo in New Zealand a number of times. But now they are back on the road and play the Powerstation on January 27 and Wellington Opera House on January 28. For Auckland tickets go to ticketmaster.co.nz and for Wellington at ticketek.co.nz.

Meanwhile, veteran blues-rock singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge is also heading New Zealand to play two shows.

She plays the Civic in Auckland (tickets www.the-edge.co.nz) on July 6 and Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on July 7 (tickets ticketek.co.nz) and performs songs reaching back to her self-titled 1988 breakthrough debut album.

On the local front, the feelers have announced some festive season weekend dates including Auckland's Albany Pub on December 17, and a special show on New Year's Eve at Papamoa Tavern with a reunited Zed.

Also heading out on a summer jaunt are Midnight Youth, who hit the road on December 15 in Christchurch before ending up at the Brownzy in Auckland on Christmas Eve. For dates go to ticketmaster.co.nz or midnightyouth.com.